Monat: August 2019

  • All About Xbox Insider Preview Rings

    All About Xbox Insider Preview Rings

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    In June of 2018, we announced the addition of Alpha Skip-Ahead to our existing Xbox One Update Preview rings. The goal was to allow gamers to provide feedback for Xbox One builds or features long before we expect to release them to the general public. Thanks to our most enthusiastic members that goal is becoming a reality.

    Because we’ve seen confusion regarding the difference between rings, we hope this post will help you understand the purpose of each one.

    Xbox Insider Program Rings

     

    As of August 2019, the current Xbox Insider rings are:

    • Alpha Skip-Ahead – An “invite only” ring that receives preview builds of a future Xbox One OS release.
      • “Future” release means these builds may not be released to GA for some time. As such, they may contain different features than other rings.
    • Alpha – An “invite-only” ring that receives preview builds of the next upcoming Xbox One OS release.
      • This means this is a preview version of the build that will be delivered to the general audience (GA) next.
      • Alpha receives a preview release of the next upcoming build before any other ring.
    • Beta – An open ring to Xbox Insiders with 3 or more months tenure, with a level 5 or higher in the program.
      • Beta receives the next public release of an Xbox One OS starting at some point later than Alpha.
      • Once Beta receives a build, the build is typically released that same week Alpha receives them.
    • Delta – An open ring to Xbox Insiders with 1 or more months tenure, with a level 2 or higher in the program.
    • Omega – An open ring to anyone who would like to receive system updates and features shortly before they release to the GA.

     

    Common Question from Xbox Insiders

     

    “I’m in Skip-Ahead, but we haven’t gotten the same features as Alpha. Sometimes we get them after Alpha. What gives?”

    Whenever Team Xbox releases a new build (or feature), the confidence in a ring’s stability helps us determine which ring might receive it. This stability is both dependent on the build itself and the service that powers it. Each ring is critical in ensuring Xbox One OS builds are in excellent condition when they’re released to GA. Alpha Skip-Ahead builds may include fundamental changes to the OS. This ring may also include or lack features the other “next” rings (Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omega) have.

    Alpha Skip-Ahead is part of a different development branch from the other preview rings. The fundamental, core changes that are implemented into Alpha Skip-Ahead builds are done so to validate their stability and functionality. Not all the ways in which Alpha Skip-Ahead differs from the other rings will be obvious with every OS build. Changes that are integrated into other rings, that are visibly reflected in the UI (user interface), may not appear in Alpha Skip-Ahead right away, but our development teams work to get them out as quickly as possible. This ring serves as a building block for changes for Xbox One that have a larger impact on the functionality and stability of the system, overall.

    Because of how much sooner Alpha Skip-Ahead receives system updates, this time allows for longer stress-testing of these features to see how they perform with a smaller audience we know we can trust to provide us critical feedback. Your feedback helps us ensure the feature or build performs and scales, as expected, before releasing to the next ring.

    We hope this gives you some insight into how the rings work.

     

    Thank You for Being an Xbox Insider

     

    You have chosen to go above and beyond to help provide us with invaluable feedback and suggestions. We thank you all for your participation in making Xbox the experience it has been and will become!

     

    Helpful Xbox Support Links

    For more information: follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for release notes, announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.

    See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

    Related:
    Join the Age of Empires: Definitive Edition Beta August 7th
    Bless Unleashed’s Closed Beta Starts Today July 11th
    Thank you for your Windows Gaming feedback–more State of Decay slots now available!

    Website: LINK

  • This Week on Xbox: August 16, 2019

    This Week on Xbox: August 16, 2019

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!

    The ID@Xbox Open House Returns on August 29
    We’re calibrating our TVs and charging our controllers as we get ready to host you at our home in Redmond, Washington for an afternoon of games (lots), fun (also lots) and much, much more for our sixth annual ID@Xbox Open House on August 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. PT… Read more

    World of Warships: Legends Enters a New Chapter Featuring the Battleship Tirpitz
    World of Warships: Legends continues to make waves with a new update that marks its full release and graduation from Xbox Game Preview on Xbox One. With a massive storm of new content in the form of German cruisers and destroyers, while the battleships of Germany… Read more

    PC Building SimulatorPC Building Simulator

    5 Developer Tips for Playing PC Building Simulator Like a Pro
    Here at The Irregular Corporation we’re super excited to be launching PC Building Simulator on Xbox One today. After two years of community supported development we’re pretty handy with the thermal paste, and today we’re going to pass along five of our top tips to help our new players… Read more

    The Buskers Behind Genesis Noir
    Genesis Noir is an adventure game that takes place before, during, and after the Big Bang. A cosmic gunshot expands towards the heart of a god and you must explore the universe, seeking clues on how creation might be undone. The Big Bang has been getting ever larger… Read more

    OverwatchOverwatch

    Overwatch Introduces New Ways to Group Up and Fight for the Future on Xbox One
    Exciting updates are coming to the world of Overwatch, giving players new ways to jump into the epic team-based shooter. This month the thirty-first hero, Sigma, joins the lineup and a new Role Queue system goes in to effect, evolving the way players group up to claim victory… Read more

    Stellaris: Console Edition Gets First Major Expansion, Utopia, Today!
    Earlier this year, we published Stellaris: Console Edition on Xbox One, making it the first grand strategy game meant to be played on controllers! The celebrated sci-fi game has a dedicated following on PC and we wanted to share the same opportunity to explore a galaxy full of wonders… Read more

    Inside Xbox gamescom 2019Inside Xbox gamescom 2019

    gamescom 2019 Kicks off with an All-New Inside Xbox
    Live from the world’s largest gaming convention in Cologne, Germany, Inside Xbox returns on Monday, August 19, at 5 p.m. CEST / 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT. With the release of Gears 5 less than a month away, Inside Xbox will unveil the game’s Horde Mode! We’ll also premiere nearly a dozen… Read more

    Go Beyond with the Biggest Free Update Yet to No Man’s Sky on Xbox One
    Hello! Today, we’re pleased to reveal what we’ve been working on for the past 12 months. The latest update for No Man’s Sky, Beyond, is out now for all No Man’s Sky Xbox One owners to download for free. This is the biggest update yet, bringing together a whole host of new features… Read more

    Xbox and 2K Build One-of-a-Kind Basketball Court at I Promise School in Akron
    In partnership with our friends at 2K (publisher of NBA 2K19 and NBA 2K20) and the LeBron James Family Foundation, we unveiled yesterday a one-of-a-kind basketball court at the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio that will inspire a legacy for generations to come… Read more

    Meet Microsoft Game Stack Developers at devcom 2019 for Panels, Ideas, and More
    Next week is one of the biggest gaming shows of the year: gamescom! And for game developers, that also means devcom. This year, team Microsoft will be representing at both conferences: devcom from August 18 to 19 and gamescom from August 20 to 22. If you’re a game developer… Read more

    Free Play Days: Black Desert & Puyo PuyoFree Play Days: Black Desert & Puyo Puyo

    Free Play Days: Black Desert and Puyo Puyo Champions
    Puzzled on what to play this weekend? Don’t worry, we got you covered! Through this weekend, Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can play Black Desert and Puyo Puyo Champions for free. Immerse yourself in an open-world, fast-paced MMORPG or challenge friends… Read more

    Demon Pit is a Savage Arena Shooter and Homage to Classic FPS Games of the 90s
    Demon Pit is a fast-paced FPS arena shooter, inspired by the genre classics of the 1990s. The gameplay design work and graphics were done by Paul Conway, and I (Sam Redfern) did all the programming. Although we’ve been friends for several years, due to the vibrant local developer… Read more

    Xbox Game Pass SweepstakesXbox Game Pass Sweepstakes

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Gears Fan Sweepstakes
    Ahead of the September 6 launch of Gears 5 Ultimate Edition with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass and The Coalition have teamed up to give you the chance to win the Ultimate Gears Fan giveaway. We are sending one lucky winner to visit The Coalition in Vancouver, BC to meet… Read more

    Train Sim World 2020 Arrives Today on Xbox One
    Winning is a slippery concept, something seen everywhere in today’s gaming culture. Gone are the days when everything was about getting the fastest time or the highest accuracy; to any one of us winning could mean something different – collecting all the achievements, perfecting a flawless… Read more

    Next Week on Xbox HeroNext Week on Xbox Hero

    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 19 to 23
    Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click… Read more

    See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

    Related:
    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Gears Fan Sweepstakes
    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 19 to 23
    Train Sim World 2020 Arrives Today on Xbox One

    Website: LINK

  • MLB The Show 19 brings three new Signature Series bosses and new content during Ken Griffey Jr. week!

    MLB The Show 19 brings three new Signature Series bosses and new content during Ken Griffey Jr. week!

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Join us this week as we focus the stadium lights on “The Kid” during #GRIFFEYWEEK! We’ll be rolling out the 6th Inning Program which, including “Junior,” will be bringing three new Signature Series bosses and a host of new content to MLB The Show 19 (Internet connection required for update).

    6th Inning Bosses

    Earn 300 Program Stars for a chance to pick one of the three bosses to add to your lineup. Who will you choose?

    • Ken Griffey Jr.
    • Jackie Robinson
    • Mike Piazza

    Ken Griffey Jr.

    Ken Griffey Jr. is recognized as one of the most prolific players to ever grace the diamond. Winner of the 1997 AL MVP award and, arguably, the player with the “Sweetest Swing.” Choose “The Kid” if you’re looking to add some speed and style to your roster.

    Jackie Robinson

    Few, if any, players hold a more revered position in the game of baseball than Jackie Robinson. Earning the NL Rookie of the Year Award in first year in the MLB with 12 homers, a league-leading 29 steals, and a .297 average. Any team would be made more formidable by adding Jackie to the lineup.

    Mike Piazza

    Recipient of 10 Silver Slugger awards during his time in the league, there’s very little room to argue against Mike Piazza as the greatest offensive catcher of all time. If you’re looking to add some power to your team then Piazza might be your best bet.

    Moments

    The 6th Inning Program introduces some new Moments wherein you’ll have a chance to play as the Bosses during some of the most iconic instances of their illustrious careers and a few opportunities to match-up against them using your Diamond Dynasty team.

    Earn Program Stars by:

    • Playing games in MLB The Show 19
    • Completing daily Missions
    • Completing all goals in the new 6th Inning Conquest Map
    • Completing 6th Inning Moments

    Conquest

    In addition to the new 6th Inning Moments, there’s also a new 6th Inning Conquest Map whose shape harkens back to the early days of the Seattle Mariners ball club. Earn 30 Stars, plus additional Stubs, XP, and Standard Packs for completing all of the objectives laid out in the new 6th Inning Conquest Map.

    Programs Note: Now that the 5th Inning Program has ended, the Program Stars you earn through general gameplay and completing daily Missions will go toward the 6th Inning Program. You can still complete the 1st through 5th Inning Programs by completing the Moments, Collections and Conquest maps listed within each Program.

    Twitch

    If you haven’t already be sure to head over to https://theshownation.com/twitch_drops and link your PSN and Twitch accounts to earn Drops simply for viewing SonySanDiegoStudio and our #SonyPartner affiliates MLB The Show 19 streams. Be on the lookout for special card packs and in-game content that can only be had via Twitch Drops!

    Website: LINK

  • August 16th : New Preview Alpha Ring 1910 Update (1910.190814-1910)

    August 16th : New Preview Alpha Ring 1910 Update (1910.190814-1910)

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Starting at 2:00p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha Ring will begin receiving the latest 1910 Xbox One system update (Build: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1910\18363.7100.190814-1910).

     

     

    DETAILS:

    • OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1910\18363.7100.190814-1910
    • Available: 2:00 PM 8/16/19
    • Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM 8/17/19

     

    Fixes:

     

    Notifications/Alerts

    • Fixed an issue where alerts/notifications were not loading when accessed in the Guide.

     

    System

    • Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.

     

     

    Known Issues:

     

    Audio

    • Users who have Dolby Atmos enabled and console display settings set to 120hz with 36 bits per pixel (12-bit) are experiencing loss of Dolby Atmos audio in some situations.
      • Workaround: Disable 120hz or set Video Fidelity to 30 bits per pixel (10-bit) or lower.
    • Some users using default audio settings with an audio setup that supports a maximum of 2 channels and Dolby Digital and NO headset connected will experience audio distortion when they start their console.
      • Workaround: Navigate to Settings>Display & sound>Audio output and set the HDMI audio to Stereo Uncompressed.

     

    Controllers

    • Some users have reported that they are unable to power on their console via a controller.
      • Note: If you encounter this behavior, please make sure to include the firmware version of the controller in your feedback description. This can be accessed by navigating to Settings>Devices & streaming>Accessories using the controller experiencing the behavior and select the ellipsis from the Controller menu.

     

    Gamertag

    • Customers attempting to change their GT using the new Gamertag features on the console will not yet see those changes reflected on the console.

     

    Profile Color

    • Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.

    See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

    Related:
    August 16th : New Preview Alpha Skip Ahead Ring 1910 Update (1910.190814-1910)
    August 14th : New Preview Alpha Ring 1910 Update (1910.190812-1924)
    August 14th : New Preview Alpha Skip Ahead Ring 1910 Update (1910.190812-1924)

    Website: LINK

  • August 16th : New Preview Alpha Skip Ahead Ring 1910 Update (1910.190814-1910)

    August 16th : New Preview Alpha Skip Ahead Ring 1910 Update (1910.190814-1910)

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Starting at 2:00p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha Skip Ahead Ring will begin receiving the latest 1910 Xbox One system update (Build: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1910\18363.7100.190814-1910).

     

     

    DETAILS:

    • OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1910\18363.7100.190814-1910
    • Available: 2:00 PM 8/16/19
    • Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM 8/17/19

     

    Fixes:

     

    Notifications/Alerts

    • Fixed an issue where alerts/notifications were not loading when accessed in the Guide.

     

    System

    • Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.

     

     

    Known Issues:

     

    Audio

    • Users who have Dolby Atmos enabled and console display settings set to 120hz with 36 bits per pixel (12-bit) are experiencing loss of Dolby Atmos audio in some situations.
      • Workaround: Disable 120hz or set Video Fidelity to 30 bits per pixel (10-bit) or lower.
    • Some users using default audio settings with an audio setup that supports a maximum of 2 channels and Dolby Digital and NO headset connected will experience audio distortion when they start their console.
      • Workaround: Navigate to Settings>Display & sound>Audio output and set the HDMI audio to Stereo Uncompressed.

     

    Controllers

    • Some users have reported that they are unable to power on their console via a controller.
      • Note: If you encounter this behavior, please make sure to include the firmware version of the controller in your feedback description. This can be accessed by navigating to Settings>Devices & streaming>Accessories using the controller experiencing the behavior and select the ellipsis from the Controller menu.

     

    Gamertag

    • Customers attempting to change their GT using the new Gamertag features on the console will not yet see those changes reflected on the console.

     

    Profile Color

    • Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.

    See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

    Related:
    August 16th : New Preview Alpha Ring 1910 Update (1910.190814-1910)
    August 14th : New Preview Alpha Ring 1910 Update (1910.190812-1924)
    August 14th : New Preview Alpha Skip Ahead Ring 1910 Update (1910.190812-1924)

    Website: LINK

  • Daily Deal – Levelhead, 30% Off

    Daily Deal – Levelhead, 30% Off

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Today’s Deal: Save 30% on Levelhead!*

    Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are!

    *Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time
    Website: LINK

  • Daily Deal – Unheard, 30% Off

    Daily Deal – Unheard, 30% Off

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Today’s Deal: Save 30% on Unheard!*

    Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are!

    *Offer ends August 28 at 10AM Pacific Time
    Website: LINK

  • Fireworks! A Sample Extension Using Bits

    Fireworks! A Sample Extension Using Bits

    Reading Time: 5 minutes
    Braxton Lancial

    It’s always a good time for fireworks! And fireworks are even better when they’re digital and in a Twitch Extension. Recently we published a new sample Extension on the GitHub, which allows viewers to exchange Bits for an immaculate fireworks display in a video overlay. It leverages several of our Bits-in-Extension APIs, the Extension Configuration Service, and a lightweight Extension Backend Service. If you’re interested in how we built this Extension, and want to learn more about what tools Twitch offers to enable you to build a similar Extension yourself, you’re in the right place.

    Bits in Extensions enable you to build and manage a catalog of items and experiences in which viewers can exchange Bits. We provide a helper function to prompt the Bits transaction flow, and our callbacks allow your Extension to react accordingly to a transaction. The first step to manage your catalog of offerings for viewers is setting up the SKUs that will be included in your catalog. SKUs can be setup using the Developer Rig. After creating a new project or opening an existing project in the Developer Rig, you can navigate to the “Monetization” section on the left, and then click the “Live Products” tab. Here you can add new products as well as manage items after they’ve been created. In this example we’ve created two items — a Small Fireworks item at an amount of 10 Bits, and a Large Fireworks item at an amount of 100 Bits.

    Another useful feature utilized in this sample is the Configuration Service. This service enables developers to store Extension-specific and channel-specific data. In our fireworks example, we allow broadcasters to select one of two items they would like to be available to exchange for Bits — either Small Fireworks, or Large Fireworks. Upon selection, the configuration page saves that selection into the broadcaster configuration service segment. This choice ultimately determines what SKU will be presented to viewers. The Extension retrieves this broadcaster configuration and displays a button allowing viewers to exchange Bits for the selected SKU. While simple, this is an example of how easy it can be to empower broadcasters to tailor the Extension experience to their liking within your predetermined boundaries.

    function saveSettings() {
    var radioBtns = document.getElementsByName('firework');
    for (var i = 0, length = radioBtns.length; i < length; i++) {
    if (radioBtns[i].checked) {
    twitch.configuration.set("broadcaster", "", radioBtns[i].id);
    log("saveSettings() fired, broadcaster-selected sku set to: " + radioBtns[i].id);
    break;
    }
    }
    }

    We’ve set up our SKUs, we’ve implemented the Configuration Service to manage our catalog per broadcaster, now we’re ready for viewers to actually exchange their Bits for some digital fireworks. There are a variety of APIs and callbacks available through the Extension Helper relevant to the Bits transaction flow. In our sample, our overlay presents a very simple interface which presents a button to the viewer that reads “Launch Fireworks!”. When a viewer clicks this button, we call the useBits(SKU) method from the Twitch helper. This method kicks off the Bits transaction flow for the specified SKU from your catalog. If the viewer does not have enough Bits in their account, they’ll be led to the Bits purchasing interface, giving the viewer an opportunity to purchase more Bits and move forward with the transaction. Assuming the viewer already does have enough Bits or has just purchased enough, they’ll be prompted with a confirmation dialog box.

    useBits = function () {
    if (sku == "") {
    log("no sku received from the configuration svc");
    return;
    }
    twitch.bits.useBits(sku);
    }

    In our example, if the viewer selected Small Fireworks, they will be asked to confirm exchanging 10 of their Bits. If the viewer selected Large Fireworks, they will be asked to confirm exchanging 100 of their Bits. At this point the user will either confirm or cancel the transaction. Both options invoke callbacks from the Twitch helper so you can handle their decision accordingly. We only care about handling the scenario where the user has successfully confirmed exchanging their Bits for (digital) fireworks. When the user completes this transaction, the onTransactionComplete(transaction) callback function is invoked.

    twitch.bits.onTransactionComplete(function (transaction) {
    log("onTransactionComplete() fired, received transactionReceipt: " + transaction.transactionReceipt);

    fetch("https://localhost:8080/api/fireworks", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
    "Authorization": "Bearer " + transaction.transactionReceipt,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ channelId: channelId })
    }).then(function (response) {
    if (response.ok) {
    log("ebs validated transaction")
    }
    else {
    log("ebs was unable to validate transaction")
    }
    });
    });

    twitch.listen('broadcast', function (topic, contentType, sku) {
    log("listen() fired, received sku via PubSub: " + sku + ". Shooting Fireworks!");
    launchFireworks(sku);
    });

    Here we do a quick validation with our backend (more on that later), which eventually invokes the listen() callback via PubSub. Now we can finally shoot off our beautiful display of pixelated fireworks on the overlay. Bits transaction complete!

    While the interface of the Extension and the fireworks themselves are the more exciting parts, the dirty work still has to be done somewhere. This is where our Extension Backend Service comes into play (EBS for short). Most (but not all) Extensions require some sort of backend to operate. In this sample, our EBS verifies the validity of a Bits transaction by verifying its Javascript Web Token (JWT), then sends out the purchased Bits SKU via PubSub.

    Verifying a JWT with Go

    We chose to write our EBS in Go, as Go is a very lightweight way of quickly spinning up a backend. Our Go server must be running before our frontend can interact with it. Once it is, you can see our frontend routes our request to the API endpoint we’ve configured at https://localhost:8080/api/fireworks. This endpoint requires a Bearer Token as an Authorization Header (which will come from the transaction receipt field), as well as a channelId (the broadcaster’s Twitch user id). Our EBS uses a JWT library to parse the token we received from the transaction to ensure this request is coming from our Extension on Twitch. If it arrives at that confirmation, we respond with a 200 status and continue.

    Using PubSub with our own JWT

    We now need to create our own signed JWT, so when we send our PubSub message, Twitch knows it is coming from us. We can do this easily as seen in the newJWT(channelID string) function, by again utilizing the JWT library (most languages have solid JWT libraries that will make your life easier). After generating our own token, we can broadcast a message through PubSub by hitting the messages endpoint, and specifying what channel the message should be sent to. Using PubSub allows us to send a message to all Extension client instances in a specified channel all at once. This is what ultimately triggers the listen() method from the Twitch Helper on the frontend, and will shoot off our fireworks.

    // newJWT creates an EBS-signed JWT
    func (s *service) newJWT(channelID string) string {
    var expiration = time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 3).Unix()

    claims := jwtClaims {
    UserID: s.ownerID,
    ChannelID: channelID,
    Role: "external",
    Permissions: jwtPermissions {
    Send: []string{"broadcast"},
    },
    StandardClaims: jwt.StandardClaims {
    ExpiresAt: expiration,
    },
    }

    token := jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodHS256, claims) tokenString, err := token.SignedString(s.secret)
    if err != nil {
    log.Println(err)
    }
    log.Printf("Generated JWT: %s\n", tokenString) return tokenString
    }

    Our Extension Backend Service has now validated the JWT from the incoming request to verify it was coming from our frontend, it has created its own JWT to send back to Twitch, and it has sent a PubSub message to the channel the request originally came from. Our EBS’s work here is done.

    Hopefully this Extension sample can help kickstart your Bits-enabled Extension development. Extensions come in many different flavors, so for more examples using other frameworks and languages, check out TwitchDev on GitHub. Visit the Twitch Developer site to begin developing your Twitch Extension. Happy building!

    Website: LINK

  • Attend or Stream the FIA Gran Turismo Championships Next Weekend

    Attend or Stream the FIA Gran Turismo Championships Next Weekend

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    The third battleground for the World Tour live event of the 2019 FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships is set to take place at the PlayStation Theater in New York City next weekend, August 24 and 25.

    The pressure of this year’s competition is starting to heat up as the New York event marks the halfway point leading to the World Finals. The best of the best Gran Turismo Sport drivers from around the globe will compete against each other in the heart of Times Square in front of a live audience over two intensive days for top spot within the Manufacturer Series and Nations Cup.

    I want to see the competition live. Where do I go?

    For all racing fans within the New York area, we are excited to invite you to witness the two-day competition live in person at the PlayStation Theater. This is your golden opportunity to be part of the exciting competition and also your chance to meet the best Gran Turismo Sport players from around the world together with members of Polyphony Digital Development Team.

    Admission to the event is free, and those attending the event in person will receive a limited production Gran Turismo License Plate Frame and Gran Turismo Sport In-Game Voucher giveaway (Limited supplies) at the end of each day.

    Seats and entry to the PlayStation Theater are limited to first come first serve basis so be sure to arrive early on Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25.

    PlayStation Theater

    1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
    Directions:

    • Doors Open at 1:00PM EDT
    • Race Begins at 2:00PM EDT

    Attendees will also have a chance to enter a raffle for a chance to win some Gran Turismo shirts or hat from PlayStation Gear Store right before the start of the race each day. The Grand Prize for the raffle, to be awarded at the end of each day on or around 4:00 PM EDT, is the official competitive wheel for Gran Turismo Sport, the legendary Thrustmaster T-GT wheel and pedal set.* Click here for official rules.

    Lastly, for those who want to be part of the competitive experience, we’ll have the official Gran Turismo sleds with the Thrustmaster T-GT Wheel on demo, and PlayStation Gear Store will also be on-site with limited production Gran Turismo shirts and hats made specifically for the 2019 Gran Turismo World Tour New York.

    Where else can I see the action?

    You can catch the event live over the weekend at the following times:

    • Press Conference / Pro-AM Race (Closed to the Public)
      Friday, August 23rd, 3:00PM to 4:00PM EDT
    • Manufacturer Series: Saturday, August 24th, 2:00PM to 4:00PM EDT
    • Nations Cup: Sunday, August 25th, 2:00PM to 4:00PM EDT

    Links to the streams with commentary for your respective language can all be found here.

    Remember you can find all the latest Gran Turismo info here at PlayStation.Blog and on the Gran Turismo website.

    Website: LINK

  • Gallery: Four Hand-Crafted, Artisanal Borderlands 3 Wallpapers

    Gallery: Four Hand-Crafted, Artisanal Borderlands 3 Wallpapers

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Borderlands 3 launches on September 13 — yowza! That’s soon! The third mainline entry in the rootin’ tootin’ lootin’ shootin’ saga introduces a party of four new Vault Hunters, each with their own very particular set of skills. But you know who’s back in Borderlands 3?

    Bandits.

    Yep — a whole gaggle of wild, unpredictable maniacs who would love nothing more than to give you lots of violent hugs.

    To celebrate BL3’s impending release, our pals at 2K whipped up some fresh new Bandit-themed desktop and mobile wallpapers with which you can adorn your device of choice. You can also hop in and play Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition for free this weekend — click here to download it at PlayStation Store. Enjoy!

    Website: LINK

  • Share of the Week – Fashion

    Share of the Week – Fashion

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Last week, we asked you to put your best fashionable foot forward and share outfits from your favorite games that stand out using #PS4share and #PSBlog. We’ve got the catwalk ready to show off this week’s highlights:


    @MisthosLiving wisely dons the Athena’s Blessing armor set in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.


    Deacon rocks post-apocalyptic biker chic in this Days Gone share by @ahmedzafar99.


    Even though it’s summer, Aloy wears the Banuk Ice Hunter armor set from Horizon Zero Dawn, as shared by @DpDwarf.


    @kas_marius gave their outlaw a dapper look in Red Dead Redemption 2.


    Chloe wears her rebellious streak on her sleeve in Life Is Strange: Before The Storm, shared by @_priism.


    @Sefwick shows off the stylish hackers of DedSec in Watch Dogs 3.

    Search #PS4Share and #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in next week’s Share of the Week?

    Theme: No Man’s Sky Beyond
    Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, August 21

    Next week, we’re headed to the vast expanse of procedurally generated space in No Man’s Sky Beyond. Share moments that are out of this world with #PS4share and #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

    Website: LINK

  • FIFA 19 – Die Herausforderung der Weekend League

    FIFA 19 – Die Herausforderung der Weekend League

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Yannick Dohrmann, freier Redakteur:


    Mit der Weekend League hat EA der FIFA-Reihe nicht nur einen hoch kompetitiven Spielmodus verpasst, sondern auch einen Einstiegspunkt für Turniere und Weltmeisterschaften erschaffen. Wer sich innerhalb von Ultimate Team mit den Besten der Besten messen möchte, der kommt in der Weekend League voll auf seine Kosten.

    Diese findet wöchentlich von Freitagabend bis Montagfrüh statt und verlangt von euch, dass ihr 30 Spiele absolviert. Doch bevor ihr euch dieser Herausforderung stellen dürft, müsst ihr euch erst Mal für ein solches Wochenende qualifizieren.

    Qualifizierungs Phase

    Statt täglicher Online-Turniere funktioniert die Qualifikation für die Weekend League in FIFA 19 nun über die neu eingeführten Division Rivals. Im Prinzip nichts anderes als ein Rangkampf Modus, wie man ihn aus vielen anderen Spielen auch kennt. Wer noch nie bei den Division Rivals dabei war, muss zunächst fünf Matches bestreiten, um einer Division zugeordnet zu werden. Insgesamt gibt es dabei zehn unterschiedliche Divisionen.

    Sobald ihr in einer Division gelandet seid, könnt ihr euch durch weitere Matches Punkte verdienen. Siege bringen euch nicht nur in höhere Divisionen, sondern füllen euren Account auch mit FUT-Champions-Punkten. Von diesen werden 2000 Stück für die Teilnahme an einer Weekend League benötigt.

    Keine Panik, weder müsst ihr diese 2000 Punkte innerhalb einer Woche verdienen, noch seid ihr gezwungen sie sofort auszugeben, sobald ihr sie beisammenhabt. Wer an einem Wochenende nicht genug Zeit hat, um seine 30 Spiele zu absolvieren, der kann die Punkte auch schlicht für ein Wochenende aufsparen, an dem es zeitlich besser passt. Niederlagen in den Divison Rivals bringen euch übrigens auch Punkte, sodass ihr in jedem Fall für eure investierte Zeit belohnt werden.

    Wer sich erst ein Mal für eine Weekend League qualifiziert hat, der bekommt sogar eine faire Chance, sich mit der Teilnahme an dieser für die nächste Weekend League zu requalifizieren. Elf Siege bringen euch nämlich genug Punkte ein, um eine erneute Teilnahme zu ermöglichen, aber keine Sorge, auch mit weniger Siegen erhaltet ihr noch einen Haufen FUT-Champions-Punkte. Fehlende Punkte können dann wieder wie gehabt in den Division Rivals hinzuverdient werden.

    Lohnen tut sich das Ganze auch, denn die Weekend League hält für ihre erfolgreichsten Spieler fette Belohnungen bereit!

    XXXX

    Erfolg wird belohnt

    Die Weekend League hält für gute Spieler einige der besten Belohnungen bereit, die FIFA 19 zu bieten hat. Die Teilnahme lohnt sich also, auch wenn die Konkurrenz groß ist. Ein gutes Team ist neben Spielerfahrung also Pflicht, um Siege und bessere Belohnungen einzuheimsen.

    Das Matchmaking wird dabei stets versuchen, euch mit gleichstarken Gegnern zu verbinden. Die Auswahl geschieht dabei über die sogenannte Form. Jeder Spieler startet mit einer Form von 0 in eine neue Weekend League. Jeder Sieg erhöht diese Form und gibt an, wie gut ihr seid, sodass ihr primär mit Gegnern ähnlicher Form zusammengepackt werdet.

    Nach 30 Spielen ergibt sich so nicht nur euer Rang, sondern für die Topspieler auch eine Rangliste. Die Ränge reichen dabei klassisch von Bronze 3 bis Gold 1 und anschließend von Elite 3 bis Elite 1. Wer zur Elite gehören will braucht jedoch auch mindestens 27 Siege, wofür es als Belohnung dann aber auch gleich 125.000 Münzen und diverse Sets mit seltenen Spielern gibt.

    Der Elite 1 Rang dient in speziellen Phasen sogar dazu, um sich für die FIFA Weltmeisterschaften zu qualifizieren. Innerhalb von diesem Rang gibt es zudem ein Ranking der besten einhundert Spieler. Wer also noch mehr als 27 Siege herausgeholt hat kann sich noch Mal über die doppelte Menge an Münzen und seltenen Spielern freuen.

    Sicherlich bedeutet eine Teilnahme an der Weekend League viel Zeit und Arbeit, aber die Belohnungen sind es allemal wert. Nirgendwo sonst lassen sich so schnell, so viele Münzen und gute Spieler freischalten wie hier. Mit ein bisschen Übung sollte es euch möglich sein, elf Siege zu schaffen, was euch ohne extra Zeitaufwand die Teilnahme an der nächsten Weekend League ermöglicht und euch zeitgleich den Silber Rang beschert, der weitere Belohnungen mit sich bringt.

    Wir hoffen euch die Herausforderung hinter der Weekend League etwas näher gebracht zu haben. Wer weiß, vielleicht trifft man sich ja schon bald auf dem virtuellen Bolzplatz!

    Website: LINK

  • Vier wunderschöne, von Hand gefertigte Borderlands 3 Wallpaper

    Vier wunderschöne, von Hand gefertigte Borderlands 3 Wallpaper

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Justin Massongill, SIEA:


    Borderlands 3 erscheint am 13. September — yowza! Das ist ja schon bald! Der dritte Hauptteil in der Rootin’ Tootin’ Tootin’ Lootin’ Shootin’-Saga stellt eine Gruppe von vier neuen Vault Huntern vor, jeder mit seinen ganz eigenen Fähigkeiten. Aber wisst ihr, wer wieder in Borderlands 3 ist?

    Banditen.

    Ja — eine ganze Schar von wilden, unberechenbaren Wahnsinnigen, die nichts lieber tun würden, als euch viele gewalttätige Umarmungen zu geben.

    Um die bevorstehende Veröffentlichung von BL3 zu feiern, haben unsere Freunde von 2K einige frische neue Banditen-Wallpaper für Desktops und Mobiltelefone zusammengestellt, mit denen ihr euer Wunschgerät schmücken könnt.

    Ihr könnt auch einsteigen und an diesem Wochenende Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition kostenlos spielen – klickt hier, um es im PlayStation Store herunterzuladen.

    Viel Spaß!

    Website: LINK

  • Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Willkommen bei Next Week on Xbox. Wie immer stellen wir Dir alle neuen Spiele vor, die schon bald für Xbox One erhältlich sind! In der kommenden Woche erscheinen zahlreiche Spiele für Deine Lieblingskonsole – hier siehst Du, welche neuen Games Dich diese Woche erwarten. Klick Dich einfach durch die Spiel-Details, um mehr zu möglichen Vorbestellungen zu erfahren (Änderungen vorbehalten).

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Pirates of the First Star Spiele

    Der König ist pleite! Was für ein trauriger Tag. Er hat aber schon einen Plan ausgeheckt und schickt seinen jüngsten Sohn Zach auf die Suche nach einem Schatz, der das Königreich vor dem Bankrott bewahren könnte. Mit Hilfe einer fragwürdigen Gruppe von bizarren Helfern begibst Du Dich als Zach auf die Suche nach dem legendären Schatz First Star …

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Vigor Spiele

    Wir schreiben das Jahr 1991. Der Atomkrieg ist vorüber, Zentraleuropa zerstört und Norwegen der letzte bewohnbare Staat. Du beginnst als namenloser Außenseiter, aber wie wirst Du enden? Für Ungewissheit bleibt keine Zeit. Vigor ist ein kostenloser Shooter, in dem Du Dich Feuergefechten mit acht bis 12 Spielern stellst und wertvolle Ressourcen für Deinen Unterschlupf erbeutest. Risiken einzugehen wird belohnt – vorausgesetzt Du überlebst diesen Kampf auf Leben und Tod.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Remnant: From the Ashes Spiele

    Die Welt wurde von einem uralten Übel aus einer anderen Dimension ins Chaos gestürzt. Als einer der letzten Überlebenden der Menschheit stellst Du Dich solo oder im Team mit bis zu zwei anderen Spielern gefährlichen Feinden und tödlichen Bossen. In Remnant: From the Ashes widmest Du Dich dem Wiederaufbau Deiner Gemeinschaft, beschützt sie mit Deinem Leben und stellst verlorenes Wissen wieder her.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: RAD Spiele

    Xbox One X Enhanced – Die Erde ist zerstört und das postapokalyptische Leben ist hart! Als mutiger Teenager wagst Du Dich ins Brachland, einem sich ständig wandelnden, radioaktiven Ödland, in dem entsetzliche, unbekannte Kreaturen leben. In RAD schleichst Du Dich durch eine radioaktive Landschaft und erkundest eine gefährliche Welt, die den Weltuntergang nicht nur einmal, sondern zweimal überlebt hat.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Rex Rocket Spiele

    Xbox Play Anywhere – Die Zukunft der Erde ist düster, denn Menschen und Maschinen kämpfen erbittert um die Vorherrschaft. Als Captain des legendären Raumschiffes S.S. Montana eskortierst Du eine Gruppe von Wissenschaftlern und schützt sie mit Deinem Leben. Mit seiner klassischen 8 Bit-Optik und über 100 detailliert gestalteten Leveln erinnert Rex Rocket an die traditionellen 2D-Plattformer alter Spielhallen.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Smoots Summer Games Spiele

    Mit den Leichtathletik-Events von Smoots Summer Games machst Du Dich bereit für die Olympischen Spiele – und das vom Sofa aus! In diesem sportlichen Arcade-Spiel suchst Du den sportlichen Wettkampf entweder solo gegen die KI oder Du forderst bis zu drei Deiner Freunde heraus. Wer wird am Ende die begehrte Goldmedaille erobern?

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Pato Box Spiele

    In Pato Box sind die Enten los! Teste Deine Reflexe, während Du Dich auf der Suche nach Vergebung durch ein böses Unternehmen kämpfst. Du erkundest surreale 3D-Level im grafischen Comic-Look und enthüllst vielleicht sogar eine geheime Verschwörung.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Mekabolt Spiele

    Als Techniker eines Themenparks sammelst Du Batterien für die Reparatur von übergeschnappten Robotern ein. Du verwendest das praktische Mekabolt, mit dem Du die außer Kontrolle geratenen Roboter zu Deinem Vorteil nutzt und überwindest in diesem Puzzle-Plattformer 100 herausfordernde Level.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Gift of Parthax Spiele

    Gladiatorenkämpfe und Magie haben nichts gemeinsam – oder vielleicht doch? In Gift of Parthax stellst Du Dich bewaffnet mit einem magischen Arsenal an Zaubersprüchen Wellen von Monstern und bringst die 2D-Arena zum Beben. Stelle Deine Zaubersprüche zusammen, bekämpfe die Meister der Arena mit ihren mythologischen Bestien und rette Deinen Freund Veleus vor dem mächtigen Magier Parthax!

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Life is Strange 2 Spiele

    Mit Life is Strange 2: Episode 4 kommt das nächste aufregende Kapitel der preisgekrönten Life is Strange-Serie. Nach einem tragischen Vorfall laufen Sean und Daniel Diaz von zu Hause weg. Sie flüchten vor der Polizei, während sie sich mit Daniels neu entdeckter telekinetischer Kraft befassen, Richtung Mexiko. Der Weg zur Grenze ist lang und voller Gefahren. Diese Reise könnte Sean und Daniel auf ewig verbinden – oder ihr Band für immer zerreißen.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Gnomes Garden: Lost King Spiele

    Du bist die Prinzessin Deines eigenen Märchens, doch eines Tages begibt sich Dein geliebter Ehemann auf die Jagd und kommt seltsamerweise nicht zurück! Begib Dich auf ein Abenteuer in einer Welt voller Geheimnisse und mystischer Kreaturen in diesem spannenden Strategiespiel, Gnomes Garden: Lost King.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Strength of the Sword: ULTIMATE Spiele

    Mit einem riesigen Schwert, einer Raketen-Kanone und einem Flammenwerfer springst Du in Arcade Action. In Strength of the Sword: ULTIMATE stellst Du Dich einem taktischen Skillsystem in Kombination mit den packenden Bosskämpfen eines klassischen Brawlers.

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 19. bis 23. August: Path of Sin: Greed Spiele

    Es sollte ein einfacher Suizidfall sein – eine fixe Inspektion mit langweiligem Papierkram. Aber je mehr Du Dich in diese einsame Insel und die verzwickten Familienprobleme der Besitzer vertiefst, desto komplizierter wird der Fall. In Path of Sin: Greed stellst Du Dich 36 herausfordernden Objekt-Puzzles.

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Gears Fan Sweepstakes

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Gears Fan Sweepstakes

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Ahead of the September 6 launch of Gears 5 Ultimate Edition with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass and The Coalition have teamed up to give you the chance to win the Ultimate Gears Fan giveaway. We are sending one lucky winner to visit The Coalition in Vancouver, BC to meet with the development team behind Gears 5, including Studio Head Rod Fergusson, and join them for hands-on Gears 5 gameplay.

    The grand prize winner will also receive Gears-themed goodies, including a Collector’s Edition Jack Drone, Chips Ahoy cookies, Rockstar Energy Drinks and the Xbox One X Gears 5 Limited-Edition bundle (1TB). This unique console design features the Gears Omen immersed in ice and snow and includes a full-game download of Gears 5 Ultimate Edition, the Xbox Wireless Controller – Kait Diaz Limited Edition and more.

    So, what do you have to do to enter?  If you are an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, complete the Gears Quest by completing any achievement in any Gears of War title in the Xbox Game Pass library between August 14 and September 2 – and that’s it, you’re entered to win!

    Not an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member? Try it today for just $1!  Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, plus over 100 high-quality console and PC games for $14.99 a month. With games added all the time, there’s always something new to play. Download and play new games on day one like Gears 5, and critically-acclaimed indie titles like Wargroove and Human Fall Flat—plus recent blockbusters like Metro Exodus and Monster Hunter: World. With a huge variety of games from every genre, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy exclusive member deals and discounts. Play together with friends on the most advanced multiplayer network and discover your next favorite game. As an added benefit, Ultimate members get early access to Gears 5 on September 6!

    You must be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member to win, so if you haven’t yet, you can upgrade today for just $1. Click here for official rules (US only).

    For more Xbox Game Pass news, follow @XboxGamePass on Twitter and Instagram.

    See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

    Related:
    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 19 to 23
    Train Sim World 2020 Arrives Today on Xbox One
    Demon Pit is a Savage Arena Shooter and Homage to Classic FPS Games of the 90s

    Website: LINK

  • Der PlayStation Gear Summer Sale geht heute los

    Der PlayStation Gear Summer Sale geht heute los

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Neben dem unvorhersehbaren Wetter wäre der Sommer kein richtiger Sommer ohne ein paar deftige Sales, in denen ihr euer hart verdientes Geld ausgeben könnt. Also macht PlayStation Gear genau das mit der Rückkehr des Summer Sales.

    PS Gear

    Von heute bis Mittwoch, den 28. August, bietet PlayStation Gear großartige Rabatte auf Hunderte von Accessoires und Kleidungsstücken für eine Reihe von Gaming-Marken, einschließlich:

    • PlayStation
    • Assassin’s Creed
    • Crash Bandicoot
    • Crash Team Racing
    • Days Gone
    • Fallout
    • God of War
    • Overwatch
    • Resident Evil
    • Spyro

    Die komplette Liste an Produkten findet ihr auf www.playstation-gear.com.

    Darüber hinaus findet ihr eine Reihe an Multi-Buy-Angeboten, das aktuelle Angebot lautet:

    2 für €45 auf ausgewählte Fortnite-Actionfiguren

    Fortnite actionf figures

    Mit mehr als einem Dutzend beliebter Charaktere, darunter Drift, Omega und Cuddle Team Leader, könnt ihr zwei beliebige Charaktere für nur €45 wählen und eure Battle Bus-Sammlung aufbauen.

    Besucht Visit PlayStation Gear für weitere Informationen.

    Website: LINK

  • So streamt ihr am kommenden Wochenende die FIA Gran Turismo Championships in New York

    So streamt ihr am kommenden Wochenende die FIA Gran Turismo Championships in New York

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Ken Chan:


    Am kommenden Wochenende, dem 24. und 25. August, findet im PlayStation Theater in New York City die dritte Station des World Tour Live-Events der FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships 2019 statt.

    Der diesjährige Wettbewerb geht allmählich in die heiße Phase, da das New Yorker Ereignis die Halbzeit auf dem Weg zu den World Finals markiert.

    Die Elite der Gran Turismo Sport-Fahrer aus der ganzen Welt werden im Herzen des Times Square vor einem LIVE-Publikum an zwei intensiven Tagen um den ersten Platz im Manufacturer Series and Nations Cup kämpfen.

    Wo kann ich die Action erleben?

    Ihr könnt die Veranstaltung am Wochenende zu den folgenden Zeiten live miterleben:

    • Pressekonferenz / Pro-AM Rennen (nicht für die Öffentlichkeit): Freitag, 23. August, 15:00 bis 16:00 Uhr MESZ
    • Manufacturer Series: Samstag, 24. August, 14:00 bis 16:00 Uhr MESZ
    • Nations Cup: Sonntag, 25. August, 14:00 bis 16:00 Uhr MESZ

    Links zu den Streams mit Kommentaren für eure jeweilige Sprache findet ihr hier.

    Website: LINK

  • Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 19 to 23

    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 19 to 23

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to change).

    See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

    Related:
    Train Sim World 2020 Arrives Today on Xbox One
    Demon Pit is a Savage Arena Shooter and Homage to Classic FPS Games of the 90s
    Free Play Days: Black Desert and Puyo Puyo Champions

    Website: LINK

  • Getting your green thumb with the serene art experience Fujii

    Getting your green thumb with the serene art experience Fujii

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Intro paragraph

    Interview by Nathan Allen Ortega, Viveport Staff

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5InNQr3rFgo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&w=730&h=411]

    Tell us a bit about yourself and the team at Funktronic Labs

    Funktronic Labs is a small studio based in Pasadena, California. We focus on forming playful connections between humans and technology.

    What were some of your main influences on the design concepts and world of Fujii?

    On a fundamental level, Fujii is inspired by the idea that we’re interconnected through nature — everything flows from that. In terms of visual design, we looked at a lot of aquaculture designs when coming up with the aesthetic feel of Fujii’s world; we were interested in creating a world that felt like it was somewhere between outer space and underwater.

    Fujii is a dreamlike, artful experience that is equal parts art installation as much as it is an atmospheric puzzler. Was striking a balance between experiential interactivity and more gamified moments a goal from the outset or did it evolve over the course of development?

    We decided pretty early on to go in this direction, developing a relaxing, transportive experience that allowed users to move through the world at their own pace. We wanted to capture something of the essence of gardening — being immersed in nature, directly caring for and interacting with plants. The state of VR right now isn’t particularly conducive to spending long hours grinding away at traditional game mechanics, so we scoped our vision to accommodate this.

    Funktronic Labs has predominantly developed for VR lately, with a few titles in the more traditional games space. Share with us your thoughts on the state of VR and what you’d like to see from the technology or the community going forward.

    We’re interested in developing experiences across all kinds of hardware and platforms, but we’ve definitely been drawn towards mixed reality in recent years. While getting the hardware into people’s homes is a challenge, we believe the barrier to entry is actually much lower than traditional games. Controlling the camera comes very naturally to people, since it’s as simple as turning your heads, and the ability to fully immerse people in a world — away from their phones and computers — is a powerful thing in this age of distraction.

    What has the reception been like so far for Fujii? Have there been any particular bits of feedback that has surprised you?

    We’ve been really happy with the response! We’ve had quite a few folks tell us that it’s one of their favorite VR experiences to date, which has been wonderful to hear. While it wasn’t a total surprise, it’s also been fun seeing all of the users who have had out-of-body experiences with the game in altered states of consciousness.

    This game is adorable! Every bit of it is oozing with cuteness and charm. Were there any concepts, designs, sequences or so on that you had to cut from the final version of the game? I imagine that would be heartbreaking if so!

    There was so much! Our initial design for the game was much more involved than what we were ultimately able to build in such a short dev cycle. We wanted to go much deeper on the creature interactions, and we had a lot more narrative elements that ultimately didn’t make it into the final experience.

    How big was the dev team throughout and how long did Fujii take to make?

    We were a team of roughly 9 people (give or take, depending on the phase), and we worked on the project for about 14 months, including pre-production.

    Are there any plans for additional content to be brought to this artful experience that you’d like to tell our readers about?

    Nothing at the moment, but we just released the ability to have multiple save files, as well as enabled free locomotion.

    What do you ultimately want players to take away from their time in Fujii?

    We hope players will feel enriched, relaxed, and rejuvenated through their time in Fujii.

    What’s next for Funktronic?

    We definitely want to explore more in VR and AR, as well as more traditional “pancake” experiences. And pancakes. Lots of pancakes.

    The perfect way to celebrate a launch! Though a little bit goes a long way.

    Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, and congrats on launching another amazing Viveport experience!

    Fujii is now available on Viveport and as part of your Viveport Infinity membership. Not a member? Begin your free trial today and start poking at weird and beautiful flora and fauna!

    Come talk about your journey through the beautiful worlds of Fujii with your fellow VR adventurers over on our Community Forums!

    Website: LINK

  • Findet euer neues Lieblingspiel mit der PlayStation Now “Collections-Funktion”

    Findet euer neues Lieblingspiel mit der PlayStation Now “Collections-Funktion”

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Steht dir der Sinn nach einem Multiplayer-Koop-Abend oder möchtest du als Spion spannende Taktik-Action erleben? Spar dir die Suche und lass PS Now das perfekte Spielerlebnis für dich finden. Ab heute gibt es eine neue Methode, die mehr als 600 Spiele in PS Now zu durchsuchen. Denn das neue Update des PlayStation-Spieleservices beinhaltet das neue „Sammlungen”-Feature.

    In den Sammlungen gruppieren wir den kompletten PS Now-Katalog in verschiedene Sammlungen, je nach Plattformen, Genres und Themen.

    Egal, ob du die besten PlayStation-Exklusivspiele genießen, den Nervenkitzel eines actiongeladenen Scifi-Abenteuers erleben, die Reifen qualmen lassen oder dir als Pilot die Kugeln um die Ohren fliegen lassen willst – es war noch nie so leicht, dein nächstes Lieblingsspiel zu finden.

    Das ist die perfekte Wahl, wenn du dich mal nicht entscheiden kannst oder wenn du in deinem Lieblingsgenre was Neues ausprobieren möchtest.

    Blättere im Hauptmenü von PS Now einfach durch den „Durchsuchen”-Abschnitt, um diverse Sammlungen anzusehen, die dir dein nächstes Lieblingsspiel auf dem Silbertablett servieren. Hast du ein Spiel gefunden, das du für später speichern möchtest? Drücke einfach die Quadrat-Taste, um es deiner Spezialliste hinzuzufügen. So einfach ist das.

    Bist du noch kein Abonnent? Mehr Infos zum PlayStation Now-Abonnement und einen Überblick über sämtliche derzeit streambaren oder herunterladbaren Spiele gibt es auf playstation.com.

    Website: LINK

  • Scratch 3 Desktop for Raspbian on Raspberry Pi

    Scratch 3 Desktop for Raspbian on Raspberry Pi

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    You can now install and use Scratch 3 Desktop for Raspbian on your Raspberry Pi!

    Scratch 3

    Scratch 3 was released in January this year, and since then we and the Scratch team have put lots of work into creating an offline version for Raspberry Pi.

    The new version of Scratch has a significantly improved interface and better functionality compared to previous versions. These improvements come at the cost of needing more processing power to run. Luckily, Raspberry Pi 4 has delivered just that, and with the software improvements in the newest version of Raspbian, Buster, we can now deliver a reliable Scratch 3 experience on our computer.

    Which Raspberry Pi can I use?

    Scratch 3 needs at least 1GB of RAM to run, and we recommend a Raspberry Pi 4 with at least 2GB RAM. While you can run Scratch 3 on a Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 3B+, or a Raspberry 4 with 1GB RAM, performance on these models is reduced, and depending on what other software you run at the same time, Scratch 3 may fail to start due to lack of memory.

    The Scratch team is working to reduce the memory requirements of Scratch 3, so we will hopefully see improvements to this soon.

    How to install Scratch 3

    You can only install Scratch 3 on Raspbian Buster.

    First, update Raspbian!

    • If you’ve yet to upgrade to Raspbian Buster, we recommend installing a fresh version of Buster onto your SD card instead of upgrading from your current version of Raspbian.
    • If you’re already using Raspbian Buster, but you’re not sure your running the latest version, update Buster by following this tutorial:

    How to update Raspbian on your Raspberry Pi

    How to update to the latest version of Raspbian on your Raspberry Pi.

    Once you’re running the latest version of Buster, you can install Scratch 3 either using the Recommended Software application or apt on the terminal.

    How to install Scratch 3 using the Recommended Software app

    Open up the menu, click on Preferences > Recommended Software, and then select Scratch 3 and click on OK.

    How to install Scratch 3 using the terminal

    Open a terminal window, and type in and run the following commands:

    sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install scratch3

    What can I do with Scratch 3 and Raspberry Pi?

    Scratch 3 Desktop for Raspbian comes with new extensions to allow you to control the GPIO pins and Sense HAT with Scratch code!

    GPIO extension

    GPIO extension is a replacement for the existing extension in Scratch 2. Its layout and functionality is very similar, so you can use it as a drop-in replacement.

    The GPIO extension gives you the flexibility to connect and control a whole host of electronic devices.

    Simple Electronics extension

    If you are looking to add something simple, like an LED or button controller for a game, you should find the new Simple Electronics extension easier to use than the GPIO extension. The Simple Electronics extension is the first version of a beginner-friendly extension for interacting with Raspberry Pi’s GPIO pins. Taking lessons from the implementation of gpiozero for Python, this new extension provides a simpler way of using electronic components: currently buttons and LEDs.

    In this example, an LED connected to GPIO pin 17 is controlled by a button connected between pin 2 and GND.

    Sense HAT extension

    We’ve improved the Sense HAT extension to take advantage of new features in Scratch 3, and the updated version of the extension also introduces a number of new blocks to allow you to:

    • Sense tilting, shaking, and orientation
    • Use the joystick
    • Measure temperature, pressure, and humidity
    • Display text, characters, and patterns on the LED matrix

    micro:bit and LEGO extensions

    The micro:bit and LEGO extensions will become available later on Scratch 3 Desktop. This is because Scratch Link, the software which allows Scratch to talk to Bluetooth devices, is not yet available for Linux-type operating systems like Raspbian. A version of Scratch Link for Raspbian is part of our plans but, as yet, we don’t have a release date.

    A round of thanks

    It has been a long ambition of both the Scratch and Raspberry Pi teams to have Scratch 3 running on Raspberry Pi, and it’s amazing to see it released!

    A big thank you to Raspberry Pi engineer Simon Long for building and packaging Scratch 3, and to the Scratch team for their support in getting over some of the problems we faced along the way.

    Website: LINK

  • Fortnite – Besser bauen im Battle Royale

    Fortnite – Besser bauen im Battle Royale

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Yannick Dohrmann, freier Redakteur


    Was unterscheidet Fortnite von anderen Vertretern des Battle Royale Genres? Egal ob man es nun mag oder nicht, aber die Antwort ist natürlich: Das Bauen. Die taktische Komponente die im Zweikampf oft den Unterschied zwischen Sieg und Niederlage ausmachen kann.

    Ihr könnt noch so treffsicher mit euren Waffen sein, aber wenn ihr euch im Bauduell verzettelt dann zieht ihr ziemlich sicher den Kürzeren. Zum Glück gibt es Möglichkeiten die eigenen Baumeister-Fähigkeiten schnell zu verbessern und einige davon stellen wir euch heute hier vor.

    Vorbereitung & Routine

    Die in unseren Augen wichtigste Vorbereitung, die ihr noch vor Start einer neuen Runde treffen könnt, finden sich in den Einstellungen wieder. Für Konsolenspieler empfehlen wir die Option des Turbo-Bauens, um wertvolle Zeit zu sparen, wenn ihr Wände, Böden oder Schrägen platzieren wollt.

    TITLETITLE

    Am PC hingegen ist es essentiell wichtig nicht umständlich mit „Q” in den Baumodus zu wechseln, sondern am besten direkt Shortcuts für alle unterschiedlichen Strukturen parat zu haben. Grundsätzlich empfiehlt es sich hier Tasten zu verwenden die nicht weit von WASD entfernt liegen, um auch beim Bauen in Bewegung bleiben zu können.

    Ein stillstehendes Ziel lässt sich bekanntlich viel leichter treffen. So spart ihr wertvolle Zeit und könnt direkt die entsprechende Taste für das drücken was ihr grade bauen wollt.

    Routine lässt sich dabei auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise erlangen. In der Spielwiese oder im Kreativmodus gibt es keine störenden Gegner und quasi unendlich Materialien. Der perfekte Ort, um zu üben bestimmte Strukturen schnellstmöglich aus dem Bode zu stampfen.

    Klassiker sind natürlich die Kombination aus Schrägen, vier schnell gebaute Wände und einer Bodenplatte. Wiederholt ihr dieses Vorgehen schnell genug könnt ihr innerhalb weniger Sekunden hohe Türme erschaffen die euch zugleich als Deckung und Highground dienen. Nach und nach kann man sich Freunde dazu holen und gemeinsam üben simple Gebäude und Deckungen zu errichten.

    Denn wenn ihr im Spiel angeschossen werdet ist es viel klüger zunächst Defensivmaßnahmen zu ergreifen, statt direkt das Feuer zurück zu eröffnen. Egal wie gut ihr schießt, wenn ihr schon angeschlagen seid, dann startet ihr mit einem Nachteil in den Kampf und verliert meist noch wichtige Sekunden, um überhaupt auszumachen von wo ihr beschossen worden seid.

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    Trainieren wie die Weltmeister

    Wem das noch nicht weit genug geht, der sollte nach speziell für diese Disziplin ausgelegten Kreativinseln Ausschau halten. Im Internet finden sich Zuhauf Parcour Maps, die auf schnelles Bauen und auch Editieren ausgelegt sind.

    Letzteres ist vor allem für Fortgeschrittene das Mittel zur Wahl, um sich gegen andere Spieler durchzusetzen. Der schnelle Wechsel zwischen Schießen, Bauen und Editieren will gemeistert werden um Gegner, die sich eingebaut haben in ihre Schranken zu weisen.

    Der Plan hierbei: Baut eine Wand, die eurem Gegner gehört ab, ersetzt sie blitzschnell durch eine eigene und editiert anschließend ein Fenster hinein um ihn erledigen oder eine Falle hinein setzen zu können.

    Auch die Fortbewegung wird euch auf diese Art und Weise ermöglicht. Turteln nennt sich die Methode bei der ihr bestehende Wände öffnet, um im angrenzenden Bereich einen neuen Raum zu bauen und sich so gerade im Endkampf bei kleiner werdendem Sturm fortzubewegen, ohne sich allzu offen für die anderen Spieler zu präsentieren.

    Beim Editieren werden Strukturen zudem halbdurchsichtig und ermöglichen euch einen Blick nach draußen ohne, dass ihr selbst dabei zu sehen seid. Und auch sonst können die 4 Grundstrukturen durch das Editieren zu einer Vielzahl von Variationen abgeändert werden. Wer all das geistesgegenwärtig umsetzen kann verbessert seine Chancen im Zweikampf immens. Erst die Kombination aus Schießen, Bauen und Editieren macht euch zu einem wahren Meister in Fortnite.

    Website: LINK